Tuscany was the ‘Birthplace of the Renaissance’ and has remained a culturally enriched region of Italy ever since. The region’s rolling hills,medieval and art-filled towns have captivated people for centuries. Montecatini Terme is proud to have been host to several famous guests including Toscanini and Gigli and has even provided inspiration to the Tuscan poet Guiseppe Giusti who lived here, whilst Puccini is believed to have composed the third act of La bohème here.

THE TUSCAN MUSIC FESTIVAL
The TuscanyMusic Festival is a popular festival within the CCI festivals. This summer festival allows choirs to performfour times and also to experience the beauty of the picturesque town of Montecatini Terme. There is also the opportunity to visit Pisa and its famous leaning tower, Florence with its famous bridges and Lucca, a town whose streets are still laid out in the pattern of the former Roman colony.

The festival opens with an official welcome at the Opening Ceremony in the “Torretta” Spa for all participating choirs. Choirs will be welcomed by the Mayor’s office of Montecatini Terme, festival organisers, and will enjoy a choral performance by a local Italian choir.

During the festival, choirs will performan open-air concert under amagnificent dome at the beautiful Tettuccio Spa. Here you will have the opportunity to listen to the other participating choirs’ performances. After the performances have concluded, depart for a guided tour of the nearby towns of Pisa or Lucca, returning to Montecatini Terme, where dinner is served at the hotel. After dinner, choirs perform an evening open-air concert at the “Rocco”, the medieval fortress of Montecatini Alto. This is an opportunity for all participating choirs to share their music with the local population and each other.

Your choir will enjoy a guided tour of Florence. Dante, poet and historian, and Michelangelo, painter, architect and sculptor, found the city to be an ideal forum for their intellectual and artistic output and a walk round beautiful Firenze today will still enthral and enchant in equal measure. During your visit to Florence, there is the opportunity to perform an open air concert.

The Festival Closing Ceremony takes place in a typical Tuscan restaurant. After dinner, the closing ceremony begins and certificates are presented to each participating choir director, accompanied by a few words of thanks by the festival organisers. The final group sing, together with the local and guest choirs participating in the Festival, will take place and then choirs are free to (and they usually do) perform a few impromptu songs.

There is also an opportunity for choirs to stay an extra night in Montecatini Terme and to perform in one of the beautiful Catholic churches in Montecatini or a town in the surrounding area.

Please note: CCI will require a list of your repertory including song title, composer, duration and language. Church repertory should be 4 to 5 songs.

Land arrangement includes:

• 3 nights’ hotel accommodation, with buffet breakfast (twin room with private bathroom, and evening meal)
• 2 dinners in the hotel
• Participation in the opening ceremony at Spa Garden Torretta
• 4 choral performances
• Half day excursion to Pisa or Lucca
• Full day excursion to Florence
• Closing ceremony with dinner and drinks
• Daily translating service
• Coaching throughout the festival

Costs are tailored to each individual choirs’ requirements

PERFORMANCES DURING THE TUSCAN MUSIC FESTIVAL INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:

• Performance at Spa Garden Tettuccio (15 minutes)
• Open Air Performance in Florence durning your day tour (15 minutes)
• Open Air Performance in Lucca (30 minutes)
• Performance at the Medieval Fortress Rocca, Montecatini Alto or Piazza del Popollo (15 minutes)
• Choirs also have an optional performance at a mass

SAMPLE ITINERARY
Below is the most popular itinerary of the CCI Family of Choirs who have attended the Tuscan Music Festival. This is for information purposes only. All final itineraries are tailored to individual choirs requirements.

DAY 1

• Arrival in Montecatini Terme and meet your local assistant for transfer to hotel
• Enjoy dinner at your hotel
• Attend the welcome evening and opening ceremony at the music garden “Torretta” by officials and a local choir with a torch parade from Tettuccio to Torretta

DAY 2

• In the morning, perform at the spa garden Tettuccio (15 minutes)
• Enjoy an excursion to Lucca in the afternoon with an pen air performance (30 minutes) on the beautiful square in front of the cathedral or enjoy a sightseeing tour to Pisa
• In the evening, perform at the medieval fortress "Rocca" in Montecatini Alto or Piazza del Popolo (15 minutes)

DAY 3

• Enjoy a day tour to Florence including a half-day sightseeing tour and an open air performance (15 minutes)
• In the evening, all choirs come together for the closing ceremony which includes dinner and drinks at a local Tuscan restaurant.
• All choirs then join together for a final farewell song.

DAY 4

• Depart Tuscany or opt to stay for an additional night and have a performance during a mass service.

Download full information on the Tuscany International Choral Festival. (909KB)

Land arrangement includes:

• 3 nights in hotel
• Participation in festival programme
• Opening ceremony at Spa Park Torretta
• Full day excursion to Florence
• Half day excursion to Pisa or Lucca
• Closing ceremony including dinner and drinks